It's really easy to get 'comfortable' with your service providers because it's simply a pain to pivot to a new one, but as soon as your reviews start dropping because of the quality they are providing you want to be able to quickly and efficiently move to an another crew if necessary.  

The triangle in NC stands out as the highest quality option in those states. 

This team will help steer you towards purchasing a high quality property for your first one so that you have that initial success. 

My rationale is I already have a dead carpet and a vinyl sheet is easy to cover with whatever I want if I don't like the chosen material or job quality upon move out.

That said, you screen every tenant exactly the same way, if they quality, they qualify.

If you can develop a reputation as someone who brings in high quality deals, you'll make a fortune. 

Don't think I would do it while it's actively being rented due to the unforeseen complications with your lease agreement, although once you do make your improvements focus on quality, which will allow you to ask a higher rental rate and will as a by product help with your screening process and hopefully attract a better tenant which should ultimately increase your ROI.

I'm currently deployed in Kabul Afghanistan in the dirtiest, nastiest air quality in the world and we get some pretty crazy dust storms out here at times.

That would still cause your bill to blow sky high, but might honestly be imperceptible to your tenant.If you spend $5 on a flapper, instead of $13 for a better quality part...or spend $100 on a toilet (which has a $3 flapper inside it) instead of $250 on a better quality toilet with better quality parts inside it...be prepared for this to happen again in the near future.

I was never sure if I just had high standards because of my architecture background, or if indeed, my contractors were performing low quality work.